Hype trains are dangerous. In my experience, the things you want the most rarely live up to expectations. They have the tendency to disappoint you, make you question the meaninglessness of your life, make you want to give yourself a swirly, or eat a fat-ass block of cheese, because who cares if you’re lactose intolerant? the thing you were looking forward to turned out to be a stinking heap of colon-mangling crap, and WHAT EVEN IS THE POINT ANYMORE?

So. What does this have to do with the pilot episode of Syfy’s The Expanse? NOTHING. AND EVERYTHING. Because it’s amazing, and I haven’t really been able to focus on anything else except how downright awesome this series is going to be. I know. You’re thinking: Philip, stop fanboy-ing. I can’t. Look, full disclosure: I was going to love this show no matter what. I would have watched each episode 70 times over even if it was awful. Like, I’m talking season 6 of Supernatural awful, or maybe even all of Arrow.

But I am so over-the-moon ecstatic (and a little relieved, to be honest) to say that “Dulcinea” is an amazing start for The Expanse. It succeeds on all the right levels, but that said, I did “rate” this episode 82 points out of a 100, and I’ll explain why. Well, I’ll try to. Huehuehue. I’m trying something new when it comes to “ratings”–because everyone likes arbitrary numerical simplification of thoughts and opinions, right??? (Scroll all the way down if you want to skip the boring shit that is my prose. Continue reading The Expanse: “Dulcinea” (S01E01) Review→

What did you think?? Note the awesome music by Clinton Shorter. It’s got an almost “fairy tale” feel to it, eh? Don’t forget to check out the other goodies on Syfy’s website, including the full NY Comic Con panel!

And if all that weren’t enough, there’s a special Expanse screening on December 3rd, in Santa Fe, at the Jean Cocteau Theater, where Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck will be available to sign books (and body parts?!). George R. R. Martin will be there too! More info at their official blog here.

ONE. MORE. THING. It was recently announced that there will be a DIGITAL release for The Expanse, a few weeks ahead of the television premiere date. On NOVEMBER 23RD, “Dulcinea” (Episode 1) will be available to stream in the United States, on syfy.com, among other websites. That is TEN days away. Tennnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.

At this point, I should probably just make a separate category for The Expanse, huh??? Check out this short “Page to Screen” video about the TV Show, and drool and giggle and rub the side of your face against your bedroom walls because why isn’t it DECEMBER YET.

The science fiction genre has its own, weird little niche in the television world. Despite the increasing mainstream success of Game of Thrones, which, let us be clear, falls under the purview of “fantasy,” shows like Star Trek, Doctor Who, and Battlestar Galactica remain stimuli for scoffs and sneers by losers with no taste average persons. “It’s cheesy!” they’ll say, or “It just doesn’t make any sense,” they’ll say, decrying a particular show’s sorry special effects or stilted acting. These are understandable reasons for avoiding science fiction TV. But stay with me here. I think I might start actually saying something.

Hullo Expanse fans, check out this super groovy article (although it could use a little proofreading *cough* hire me *cough*) about how James S. A. Corey’s The Expanse transformed from role-playing game to widely read book series to (hopefully) successful television show.

It’s official! Syfy has officially announced that the WORLD will be GIFTED with the television adaptation of THE EXPANSE in DECEMBER. No specific day just yet. In other news, Syfy also green-lighted a television series for Lev Grossman’s fantasy novel The Magicians, which I reviewed last year. w00t?

I want him to hate it. I want him to hate every minute of it for my own amusement. –Ricky Gervais

I was skeptical, at first, how free worldwide travel could possible be. Sounded like a prank. Sounded like my bucket list come true.

But Karl Pilkington is so decidedly and conspicuously British, he makes An Idiot Abroad(2010–ongoing) entertaining! While most avid travelers (like co-host Stephen Merchant) would view the adventures as chances to embrace different cultures, Karl, so set in his creature comforts, cannot help but complain his ass off. (Granted, he does make many good points sometimes.)

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